Acetylene-lamp.



F. E. WILKISON & 6.1. MITCHELL.

ACETYLENE LAMP.

APPLICATION F|LED OCT. 17, 1913- Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I F E. WILKISON & G. J. MITCHELL.

ACETYLENE LAMP.

APPHCATION FILED OCT. I7, 1913.

l atented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED E. WILKISON, OF FAIRBUBY, NEBRASKA, AND GEORGE J. MITCHELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AGETYLENE-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application filed October 17, 1913. Serial No. 795,674.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRED E. WEKISON, residing at Fairbury, in the county of J efferson and State of Nebraska, and GEORGE J. MITCHELL, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates particularly to improvements in miners acetylene lamps, our objects being to provide a lamp of this type which may be readily attached to the miners cap and carried thereon in stable condition when in use, which may be readily slipped into the pocket when not in use, and conveniently carried therein, and which though small in external dimensions is capable of furnishing light for a comparatively long period on a single charge of materials.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the description and claims.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a front elevation of one form of our invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 4. is a plan view of the same; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figs. 3 and 6; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of our invention; Fig. 8 is a similar view of a different form; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of cap-hook; and Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line 1010 of Fig. 5 Showing the flattened side of the valve 1'0 The box-like body portion or casing 20 is formedof thin sheet metal and is substantially rectangular in cross-section and comparatively thin from front to rear. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 the sides or faces of the casing are substantially plane surfaces. The upper part of this casing forms the water chamber, the lower part the carbid pot or chamber, and the space between forms the gas chamber. A wall or partition 21 across the casing forms the bottom of the water chamber 22, which chamber may be filled by removing the screw cap 23. The carbid cup 24 is of a size to nicely telescope within the lower end of the casing 20, and is provided with a flange at its lower end to receive a rubber or other gasket 25, which is adapted to be compressed between this flange and the flange at the lower edge of the casing 20 to make a gas tight joint.

To provide a reflector which does not proect beyond the side of the casing, a circular curved depression 26 is formed in one side of the casing at the center of which the burner tip 27 of usual construction, is 10- oated. This tip is removably inserted in the short tube 28, which is secured at one end to the center of the reflector portion, and has ]lots opposite end opening into the gas cham- To admit water to the carbid and suitably control its admission a cylindrical tube 29 extends from the upper end of the casing down through the water chamber and through the partition 21 into the carbid cup. A slot or hole 30 is formed in one side of this tube at the bottom of the water chamber. A cylindrical wire or rod 31 fitting closely within this tube extends through it and down into the carbid pot. From a point just above the hole or port 30 the rod is flattened on one side as at 32 (Fig. 10). The upper end 33 of the wire is bent at an angle to serve as a handle or means by which the wire may be rotated in the tube to bring its flattened side opposite the port 30 to admit water to the carbid, or to turn it away from the port 30 to shut off the flow of water.

As above stated, the lower end of the wire 31 extends down into the carbid and is slotted or forked as at 34E to serve as an agitator to stir up the carbid when the rod is rotated. By placing the tube 29 on an incline, the lower end of the rod 31 is brought about to the center of the carbid cup, while its upper end remains where it can be readily manipulated. This rod or wire thus serves as a combined water dropper and shut-01f, and agitator for the carbid.

The carbid pot is held in place and its gasket compressed by the wire bail 35 passing underneath the same and having its ends pivoted to the wire lever arms 36, 36 which are pivoted to the casing 20 at 38, 38. A cross member 39 joins the two lever arms 36. By this arrangement, when the lever and bail are in the position shown the carbid cup is firmly clamped in position. By

throwing the lever 39 down, the bail is freed and may be swung to one side to permit the withdrawal of the cup.

A wire cap-hook 4:0 is attached to the back of the casing 20 to enable the lamp to be hooked into the cap of the user. This hook may be secured rigidly in position, or as shown it may be secured by the straps 41, 41, which permit the hook to be turned inwardly toward the casing where it is out of the way when in the pocket or at other desired times. If preferred, this cap-hook may be formed up from the lever wire 39, as at 40*, Fig. 9.

The manner of filling or charging the lamp for use is obvious. By rotating the wire or rod 31, water in any desired amount may be admitted to the carbid. The gas is thus formed and collects in the space below the water chamber. If desired, this space maybe filled or partially filled with cotton batting or other desired material to act as a filter for the gas. The gasket 25 prevents the escape of the gas. l/Vhen sufficient pressure is raised, the gas is forced through the burner 27 and may be lighted. The reflector 26 is of the desired curvature to properly reflect the light and its surface may be finished as desired. When the pressure drops, or at any other desired time, the wire 31 may be rotated to agitate and stir up the carbid. When the light is no longer needed, the wire 31 is turned to shut off the water, which soon causes the gas to cease generating.

It will be noted that the water chamber is at a sufficient elevation to give a good head for supplying the carbid with water, and that it is so disposed that all or substantially all the water may be used, thereby rendering it unnecessary to carry around an excess weight of water. Also, the carbid pot, while of large capacity as compared with other lamps for similar purposes, does not increase the size of the base of the lamp or of the lamp as a whole.

The provision of the gas chamber between the carbid and water chamber results in a better and more even and efficient action of the burner flame.

The lamp as a whole is simple and con venient. It is of condensed form and of convenient shape for use and for carrying in the pocket. There is no projecting reflector or burner and no enlarged top or base. The reflector in the main body portion affords a more substantial reflector not liable to be injured or detached from the body, and the burner tip is protected, thus enhancing the safety of the lamp. The lamp does not unduly project from the head when attached to the cap, or wabble or swing sidewise when the head is turned. Its flat sides enable it to fit snugly against the head when placed thereon, and it may be readily slipped into and carried in the pocket when notin use.

The water dropper and shut-off enables the unused portion of the carbid in the cup to be saved without emptying the water" chamber, the water passage 1s prevented from clogging by the rotation of the wire, and the carbid is prevented from caking beneath the dropper, thus enabling every part of the carbid to be used. By this means also the flow of water can be regulated to adjust the light to the desired brilliancy.

If desired, instead of making the body or casing with plane sides or faces, it may be formed with curved sides or faces, as indicated in Fig. 7, so that the same may conform somewhat to the curvature of the head when on the cap and of the body when slipped into the pocket. The construction otherwise may remain the same. Or the body may have oval or outwardly curved sides as indicated in Fig. 8, the construction in other respects being the same as in the nrst form described. In all of these forms the body or casing is thin and substantially flat, that is, as compared with one which is circular or square in cross-section.

lWhile we have described the inventionas being for miners use, it may, of course, .be used by others. Likewise, certain features of the invention may be used in other and different relations than the specific embodiments herein described. We therefore Wish to cover all such uses, relations and embodiments as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A portable pocket acetylene lamp comprising a comparatively thin substantially flat external casing, a water chamber in the upper part of said casing, and a carbidcup in the lower part of said casing, said Water.

chamber, said carbid cup and said external casing being all of substantially the same cross section throughout their lengths, one of the external walls of said casing having a depression therein for a reflector, and a burner located in said depression, said depression being so deep that the burner lies substantially within the general plane of the casing walls.

2. A portable pocket acetylene lamp comprising a comparatively thin substantially flat external casing, a water chamber in the upper part of said casing, and a carbidcup in the lower part of said casing, said water chamber, said'carbid cup and said external casing being all of substantially the same cross section throughout their lengths, one of the external walls of said casing having a depression therein for a reflector, and a burner located in said depression, said depression being so deep that the burner lies substantially within the general plane of the casing walls, the two opposite substantially flat walls of said casing being curved slightly in transverse section, said curves being substantially parallel.

3. A portable pocket acetylene lamp comprising a comparatively thin substantially fiat external casing, a water chamber in the upper part of said casing, and a carbid cup in the lower part of said casing, said water chamber, said carbid cup and said external casing being all of substantially the same cross section throughout their lengths, one of the external Walls of said casing having a depression therein for a reflector, and a burner located in said depression, said de- 15 pression being so deep that the burner lies substantially within the general plane of the casing walls, and a supporting hook at the opposite side of said casing from said depression mounted to move from a position in which it extends away from said casing to a position in which it lies flat against said casing.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED E. WILKISON. GEORGE J. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

WILL J. BELL, A. J. FOOTE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

